A couple who run a Lincoln estate agent are set to turn their shop into a coffee house during Lincoln Christmas Market with the aim of raising enough cash to buy 100 dinners for homeless people.

Paul and Rachel Horton of Green Key sales and lettings in the Bailgate took the decision to create the pop up drinks and snack bar because they were so touched by the plight of homeless people who have come into their premises since they launched their business.

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Paul said: "We started our business in July and the thing that prompted us to do the snack shop was that we have had a number of homeless people come into the shop and we have helped them out by giving them food and money, it just tugged at my heartstrings really.

"So myself and my wife Rachel decided to change the shop into a sort of snack shack throughout the Christmas Market, as we would be closed anyway. So I just thought we might as well try and do what we can to help.

"The shop will be selling tea, coffee, cakes and all kinds of snacks in order to try and raise enough money for 100 Christmas dinners for homeless people of Lincoln.

"Any money that we make from the sales I will then double the amount out of my own pocket so that we can raise as much money as possible.

Paul added: "A lot of people are quite ignorant to the homeless people in Lincoln and it was really quite startling for me to think that theres so many people out there in the cold. Even if we can just make that little bit of an impact and do what we can to help.

"A local trader has been magnificent and has provided us with 4,000 packs of biscuits, this means that when we do serve tea and coffee we can hand out a biscuit too."

Other traders in the area have donated prizes for the raffle and tombola and Lincoln City have also donated a signed football.

All money raised will be going to the charity Crisis which helps homeless people across the country.

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The Green Key snack shop will be open from 10.30am until 10pm on the first three days of the market and until 7.30pm on Sunday.

"I moved here six years ago and Lincoln has been like a home from home for me as people here are very generous and we have had great support for our project so far," Paul said.

"We're also looking to have some fun with it too as we've got some Christmas hats and Christmas jumpers to wear.

"Another great thing is it's not just a Christmas dinner which they will be receiving, they get a three course meal, medical check up, teeth check up and advice on housing and employment and a bed to stay in for the night.

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"It costs £26.08 per person for this, so we just want to try and raise as much money as we can. Doing this small thing for Lincoln's homeless will certainly make us feel like we've helped just a little bit when we sit down for our Christmas dinner."